By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 15, 2023
This Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe coats chicken thighs with a crispy cornflake crust for a yummy alternative to traditional fried chicken. Juicy, tender, and perfectly spiced, this kid-friendly cornflake fried chicken recipe hits all the right marks with flavor and texture, so you won’t get any complaints!
What’s in this Air-Fried Chicken Thighs recipe?
Cooking cornflake fried chicken in the Air Fryer is so quick and easy, and you only need a few basic ingredients to get started!
- Chicken: I like using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks because they stay juicy and tender and get really crispy, but you can use any cut of chicken, boneless or bone-in. If using boneless, reduce the cooking time slightly.
- Buttermilk: Soaking chicken in buttermilk before frying it helps to make it super tender and juicy, as well as more flavorful.
- Flour: Use all-purpose flour for dredging fried chicken.
- Cornflakes: Crushed Corn Flakes cereal is used to make a crispy coating on this fried chicken. Feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs.
- Seasonings: We use a mix of smoked paprika, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper.
Tips!
To make your own buttermilk , measure 2 cups of milk, remove 2 tablespoons of it, and mix in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
Trademark Note : In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that Corn Flakes are a trademarked product. Kellogg’s is a proprietary brand that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Variations
- Add a little bit of hot sauce into the buttermilk mixture for spicy fried chicken .
- If you don’t have smoked paprika , you can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoons regular paprika and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- For less spicy chicken , reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
- Instead of poultry seasoning , use your favorite seasoning blend, such as Italian or Creole .
- If you don’t want to make Cornflake Fried Chicken , feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs instead.
I like to use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks, but you can really use any cut of chicken you like.
The final cooking time will depend on the cut of meat you select. For chicken thighs or drumsticks, it takes about 20-25 minutes. For boneless, skinless chicken breasts, it will take about 25 minutes. For chicken tenders, it will take about 15 minutes. The proper internal temperature of cooked chicken is 165°F.
Yes! The buttermilk adds flavor and helps to tenderize the meat. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by measuring out 2 cups of milk, removing 2 tablespoons, and adding 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let this mixture stand for 5 minutes before using.
I will say, it is more difficult to get the breading to stick to skinless chicken than it is to get it to stick to skin-on chicken. However, regardless, if your breading is falling off, be sure to let it air dry for about 10 minutes on a wire rack after dredging to help it adhere better.
No! Not only will the chicken cook incredibly unevenly, but there will also not be enough airflow for the breading to become crispy. Always air fry chicken in a single layer with space between the pieces.
It’s important to spray the chicken well with oil before air frying to saturate the breading, creating a crispy crust. If there are exposed areas of raw flour, those areas will not crisp up!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Air Fryer fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 300°F or in the air fryer at 370°F for about 10 minutes.
How to Freeze
Freeze cornflake fried chicken in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Air Fried Chicken Thighs
This air-fried and cornflake-coated fried chicken is one of our favorite Air Fryer dinner ideas , and it goes well with all the typical side dishes. We love serving it with creamy mashed potatoes , mac and cheese casserole , Air Fryer corn on the cob , and buttermilk biscuits . If you want to sneak in more green, molasses green beans and Air Fryer broccoli make great sides too.
Looking for more fried chicken recipes? This Buttermilk Fried Chicken and copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken are delicious too.
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 cups buttermilk divided (see note)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika divided
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided
- ▢ 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
- ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 4 cups Corn Flakes cereal crushed
Video
Instructions
- Combine the buttermilk, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl or Ziplock bag. 2 cups buttermilk, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the chicken and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Whisk the flour and remaining salt and pepper together in a shallow dish. 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Add the cornflakes and remaining spices in a food processor and pulse a few times, till cornflakes are smaller, but not ground too much. 4 cups Corn Flakes cereal
- Pour the buttermilk off the chicken into a bowl. Dip the chicken in the flour, then dredge in the milk and finally in the cornflakes.
- Place chicken pieces in the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Set the air fryer to 375°. Fry for 10 minutes, flip the chicken and spray with cooking spray. Continue frying for an additional 10 to minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. 165° the chicken is done. If it isn’t cooked completely,continue frying for another 5 minutes and check again.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Air Fryer (click for my favorite)
Becky’s Tips
- Buttermilk: To make your own buttermilk, measure 2 cups of milk, remove 2 tablespoons of it, and mix in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
- I like chicken thighs or drumsticks, but you can use any cut of chicken!
- Add a little bit of hot sauce into the buttermilk mixture for spicy fried chicken.
- If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoons regular paprika and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- For less spicy chicken, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
- Instead of poultry seasoning, use your favorite seasoning blend, such as Italian or Creole .
- Instead of Corn Flakes, feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs.
- To eliminate mess, you can line your air fryer with a parchment liner.
- Thoroughly spray the chicken with oil before air frying for the crispiest coating.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer; cook in batches if needed.
- Make sure to cook the chicken to 165°F internally.
- If using boneless chicken pieces, reduce the cooking time. Start checking on the chicken 5 minutes before the suggested cooking time is up.
- Keep chicken warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet while you cook the next batch.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes We Love
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Parm
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Air Fryer (click for my favorite)
Ingredients
- 2 cups buttermilk divided (see note)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups Corn Flakes cereal crushed
Instructions
- Combine the buttermilk, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl or Ziplock bag. 2 cups buttermilk, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the chicken and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Whisk the flour and remaining salt and pepper together in a shallow dish. 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Add the cornflakes and remaining spices in a food processor and pulse a few times, till cornflakes are smaller, but not ground too much. 4 cups Corn Flakes cereal
- Pour the buttermilk off the chicken into a bowl. Dip the chicken in the flour, then dredge in the milk and finally in the cornflakes.
- Place chicken pieces in the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Set the air fryer to 375°. Fry for 10 minutes, flip the chicken and spray with cooking spray. Continue frying for an additional 10 to minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. 165° the chicken is done. If it isn’t cooked completely,continue frying for another 5 minutes and check again.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Buttermilk: To make your own buttermilk, measure 2 cups of milk, remove 2 tablespoons of it, and mix in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
- I like chicken thighs or drumsticks, but you can use any cut of chicken!
- Add a little bit of hot sauce into the buttermilk mixture for spicy fried chicken.
- If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoons regular paprika and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- For less spicy chicken, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
- Instead of poultry seasoning, use your favorite seasoning blend, such as Italian or Creole .
- Instead of Corn Flakes, feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs.
- To eliminate mess, you can line your air fryer with a parchment liner.
- Thoroughly spray the chicken with oil before air frying for the crispiest coating.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer; cook in batches if needed.
- Make sure to cook the chicken to 165°F internally.
- If using boneless chicken pieces, reduce the cooking time. Start checking on the chicken 5 minutes before the suggested cooking time is up.
- Keep chicken warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet while you cook the next batch.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
